Marking tool

ABSTRACT

A tool holder having a finger strap having ends adjustably attached forming an adjustable loop to fit snuggly around fingers of different thickness. The strap is resilient for comfort and its ends are attached by a hook and loop assembly. A tool strip has spaced ends attached to the outer side of the finger strap whereby an opening between the strap and strip can receive a pencil or other tool. This opening is small enough with respect to the diameter of the tool so that the tool is firmly held between the strap and the strip when in use. A modification provides for adjustable spacing, along the finger strap, of attached portions of the ends of the tool strip so that tools of varying thickness can be received in the opening. This adjustable attachment is of the hook and loop type.

FIELD OF THIS INVENTION

[0001] This invention is in the field of finger mounted holders of smalltools such as pencils, pens and brushes.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In the history of this field there have been many devices for usein word writing, or painting. But none, ever, to my knowledge, are forthe special use of very active and vigorous workers, such as carpenters,for marking work pieces before making cuttings, hammering or drilling.

[0003] A carpenter, for example, will tend to keep his pencil in apencil pocket in overalls, way up at the chest level. This wastes muchtime in: (1) reaching to this distant pencil-storage pocket, (2)withdrawing the pencil, (3) moving one's hand, with the pencil, to thework, (4) moving one's hand and pencil back to the pencil-storagepocket, (5) guiding insertions for the pencil into the pencil-storagepocket place, and (6) then moving one's hand back to grip a tool, suchas a saw, hammer, or drill.

[0004] A marker holder has long been needed that will not interfere withgood gripping of a saw, for example, right while the marker-holderremains on the worker's hand. An 1862 pioneer patent to J. Jacobs showsa trustro-cunical metal sleeve, and is one of the many to use athimble-like wedge-on finger receiver, but, such would fall quickly offthe end of the finger in vigorous carpentry. However, it was a good ideafor word writers. The metal pencil holder of this 1862 way, if used by acarpenter, might accidentally scratch and damage work surfaces, or catchon, and cut the carpenter's left hand in vigorous work. Nevertheless, itwould do for a work-writer or an artist.

[0005] Another finger-held-instrument for word writers, and theirhandwriting, is in U.S. Pat. No. 343,391, Jun. 8, 1886 to F. P. Peller.This shows a finger grip of spring steel, which grips a finger with asplit ring, whereby the ring can yield somewhat, so as to be passedacross hard joints of one's finger to get to the desired position.

[0006] The hard edges of the protruding pencil holder portion of U.S.Pat. No. 343,391 might be harmless in word writing use. However, in somecabinet carpentry, and in some furniture making, such hard edges couldaccidentally gouge an exterior wooden or painted surface, or injure thecarpenter. In U.S. Pat. No. 343,391 the finger holder itself would tendto be uncomfortably strong, in Its pressure, or of such a loose fit asto cause the pencil to flop-out of its storage place. The number ofsteel finger sizes needed for close fit would be great. This would maketooling and marketing costly. The storage place is at the finger top inU.S. Pat. No. 343,891 of 1988. However, in U.S. Pat. No. 343,891 nowriting is taught to be done with the pencil on the top of a finger butbelow only.

[0007] Over a century after this 1886 patent came U.S. Pat. No.4,738,556, Apr. 19, 1988. This 1988 patent held a writer's ballpointpen. It shows a good, wrap around, hook and loop, adjustable fingerstrap. But, in the 1988 patent, the finger strap was not resilient, notyielding, and without elasticity. The pen portion of the 1988 patentheld a pen in a permanent way with no possibility of exchange for afresh pen although the ink supply would run out as it was a very shortpen. In use, the end of the pen-carrying finger in the 1988 patent isalways covered. This is all right for pen writing, but most toolhandlers would want their fingertips free and uncovered for better gripon a saw, hammer, or other tool.

OBJECTIVES

[0008] A primary objective is to provide a marking system capable ofproviding maximum comfort during long work hours with accuracy ofmarking.

[0009] Another objective is to provide the possibility of firm grip onthe marker, holding it steady and stable for marks that are dark andeasily seen.

[0010] Another objective is to offer a marking system in which stabilityis assisted by the exertion of constant, comfortable pressure because ofelasticity in its finger strap in cooperation with length-of-strapadjustability.

[0011] Another objective is to provide a pencil-holding strip, which issoft and not in danger of cutting, accidentally, the work pieces, or theuser's left wrist.

[0012] A pencil groove in the finger strap helps, herein, to stabilizethe pencil.

[0013] Very important is the objective of capability of holding thepencil on the backside of one's finger simultaneously with the grippingof a saw, or other tool with the same hand. The pencil herein is held ina position out-of-the-way, and not interfering with good grip on a saw,hammer or drill, for examples.

[0014] Experiments were made in which the longest finger overlaps theindex finger. The longest finger then presses the pencil strip, andpencil, firmly toward the pencil holding index finger.

[0015] In further experiments it was found that the pressure from thelongest finger is made especially comfortable if the pencil is on thelongest finger side of the index finger with the pencil in approximatelya “10 o'clock like” position when the index finger is looked at fromit's outer end.

[0016] For a time, this 10 o'clock position possibility seemed verywell, and the construction of the marker holder hereof made it possible,and made it also seemingly fortunate.

[0017] But, it was discovered in still later experiments, that, with thepencil above the middle of the top of the index finger, for some reasonthe top position worked best.

[0018] Finally, it was realized that the rearward end of the pencil isstabilized better in the top position by support from the index finger.Such support does not occur when the pencil is at the side of the indexfinger. So the support in the top position was discovered to be moreimportant than extra comfort in The 10 o'clock side-position from thelesser pulling of the longest finger out of relaxed position.

[0019] So, it is an objective, the method of use herein, is to have themarker above the middle of the top of the index finger.

[0020] In addition the system hereof includes pressing the thumbupwardly toward the index finger, and in a direction toward the longestfinger position.

[0021] An objective is to have the pencil holding strip herein anchoredto the finger strap in two widely spaced places so that it does nottwist. This is an important discovery. Experiments showed that apencil-holding elastic or adjustable length marker-receiving loopattached to the strap along only one line would twist excessively. So,making two loops, a large bottom loop and a smaller upper loop, attachedalong a line where they touched, like a child's snowman in planaroutline, proved the “snowman” way impractical. Another of many, manyexperimental developments was leading to the most stable way.

[0022] Another objective is to provide a tool holder useful for holdinga pen-pencil, paint brush, a special knife and a special saw, ascrewdriver and a sharp ice-pick-like hole making tool

[0023] A further objective is to provide for automatic tightening ofgrip on the held tool simultaneously with tightening of a finger-strap.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is a side view of thumb, index finger, and longest fingerof a user holding the marker holder and pencil, hereof.

[0025]FIG. 2 is a view showing the system of FIG. 1, as seen lookingrearward in alignment with the pencil.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a top view of the holder and pencil with the strapstretched out.

[0027]FIG. 4 shows an adjustable length tool strip modification. FIG. 4a View identical to FIG. 2 but with an adjustable hook and loop typeattachment of one end of the tool strip to the finger strap. A side viewof this FIG. 4 modification would be exactly like FIG. 1.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the adjustable length tool stripmodification of FIG 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In FIG. 1, the marking system 10 hereof has a marker holder 12holding a marker or marking tool 14. The system 10 further includes ahuman hand 20 with an index finger 22, a thumb 24, and a second andlongest finger 26.

[0030] The longest finger 26 is on the side of the index finger 22,which is opposite to the thumb 24. The longest finger 26 is next to theindex finger 22.

[0031] The finger holder 12 has a finger strap 30 having two strap endportions 32 and 33, FIG. 2.

[0032] An attaching means 34 has sections 36 and 38 on the strap endportions 32 and 33 respectfully, for attaching the end portions 32 and33 together in any one of various positions to form a finger loop 40,FIG. 1, which fits closely around a finger, preferably the index finger22.

[0033] The positions of the strap end portions 32, 33 and of theattaching means 34 control the sizes of the loop 40 allowing the loop 40to fit fingers of different sizes adjustable.

[0034] A marking tool engaging strip 50 is on an opposite side of thestrap 30 from the loop 40. A connection means 51 connects the strip 50to a central area of the finger strap 30.

[0035] The strip 50 and the strap 30 provide a combination 52 ofelements 30 and 50. This combination 52 provides an opening 56, FIG. 2,for receiving an elongated shank 57 of the marking tool 14. In FIG. 2,the strip 50 has two spaced attaching areas 58, and has a tool engagablesection 59 between the two attaching areas 58.

[0036] The tool engagable section 59 engages the shank 57 of the markingtool or pencil 14 when such tool or pencil 14 is disposed in a useposition between the attaching areas 58, and also is disposed betweenthe tool engagable section 59 and the strap 30. The connecting means 50connects the spaced strip attaching areas 58 to the strap 30.

[0037] The connecting means 51 can be stitching 60, FIG. 3, or can becement or heat bonding, or other connecting means unseen at 64, FIG. 2.The strap 30 and strip 50 are of thermoplastic material.

[0038] In FIG. 2, a resilient section 68, having ends 72, is in thestrap 30 and has an elasticity so as to exert a contraction force, whenstretched, for tending to close the finger loop 40.

[0039] In FIG. 3, the strip 50, in manufacture and when not in use, islaid flat on the strap 30. In use, this way makes the strip 50 of alength to draw the strap up into two humps 74 for forming a groove 76 inthe upper side of the strap 30 so as to receive, cradle, and stabilize,the marker 14.

[0040] The marking tool 14 can be a pencil, pen, crayon or felt-tippedmarker. The tool shown is a pencil 14 with a shank portion 62 and aforward end 76.

[0041] The pencil 14 is of a short length such as mass produced forgolfers.

[0042] In FIG. 2, the strap 30 has an outer surface of looped materialbeing covered by tiny attachment loops 80.

[0043] The strap 30 has fixed thereto, a short flexible fastener 84, orfastener patch 84, FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0044] The fastener 84 has hooks 86 on a side thereof, which side facesthe attachment loops 80, FIG. 2.

[0045] The fastener 84 is attached, in any suitable manner, to a side ofthe strap 30, which side faces the inner side of the finger loop 40.

[0046] To receive tools of barging width, FIG. 4 an adjustably attachedtool strip modified and tool holder 90 is shown in which the tool strip92 is longer on one side of the tool than the other side of the tool 94the attachment means 98 at the right side of drawing is of the hook andloop type in which I patch 100 has hooks extending toward the fingerstrap, can connect to loops 10 in an area faces the patch. The patch isglued or otherwise attached, such as stitching to the finger strap.

[0047] The adjustable finger strap modification of FIG. 4 allows theadjustment end of the strip to be able to be fastened to the fingerstrap in any of many positions at variable distance from the fixed endof finger strap.

1. A tool holder comprising: an elongated finger-strap assembly having astrap having two strap-end portions, attaching means having twoattachment parts attached one to each of said strap end portions, saidattachment parts being connectable together in any one of the variouspositions whereby said finger-strap assembly forms a finger receivingloop of variable size, a tool strip on the outer side of said loop, saidstrip having two spaced connecting positions spaced along a centralportions of said finger-strap assembly, two spaced connecting meansconnecting said strip to said finger-strap assembly at said connectingpositions whereby a tool receiving opening is provided between saidfinger-strap assembly and said tool strip, said strip being formed of aseparate piece of material from said finger-strap assembly, saidconnecting positions being substantially spaced for receiving a toolthere between, said two connecting means being disposed each of saidconnecting positions.